Royal Family gathers for Christmas Day at Sandringham

The Royal Family has gathered together in Norfolk for their annual Christmas celebrations.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have hosted their family at Sandringham once again this year, with the day starting with a service of Christmas carols and prayers at St Mary Magdalene Church.

Charles and Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The Princess of Wales spoke to members of the public for a very long time following the service (Image: Aaron Chown)

The Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband, former England rugby player Mike Tindall, were a few steps behind the King.

While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was absent, his daughters have spent Christmas with the King and other royals, with Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi spotted walking to church, as was her sister Princess Eugenie and her spouse Jack Brooksbank.

The Prince of Wales (back) with (left to right) Lena Tindall, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Mia Tindall, and the Princess of Wales leaving the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church (Image: Aaron Chown)

Hundreds of people gathered in bitter temperatures under clear blue skies to catch a glimpse of the royals as they walked to and from church, just a short stroll from Sandringham House.

Kate chatted to dozens of the well-wishers for almost 20 minutes after most of the royal family had reached the house and was given armfuls of flowers, which were carried away by police officers.

Crowds started queuing to catch a glimpse of the royal family from 9pm on Christmas Eve (Image: Aaron Chown)

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also received gifts from those in the crowd, from soft toys to boxes of chocolates and games.

The family went back to Sandringham House for a traditional Christmas lunch and to watch the King’s speech together.

Hundreds waited in line to meet the Royals (Image: Aaron Chown)

He used his Christmas Day broadcast to urge the nation to “never lose sight” in a divisive world and to return to the Second World War values of “courage and sacrifice” and community spirit.

Charles has chosen Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha’s new film Christmas Karma, a modern retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, as the film they will watch together.